Back in 2005, Carrie Underwood took her first step to become a top name in country music when she auditioned for American Idol. Having no idea what the future held, the singer soon found herself winning the competition. That same year, she released her debut studio album, Some Hearts. And now, twenty years later, she found herself returning to American Idol as a judge. With Underwood returning for another season, the hitmaker discussed her growing confidence as a judge.
Being a judge on American Idol has changed over the years. Once sitting at the table, Simon Cowell proved himself to be one of the brutalist voices in the music industry. Week after week, the record executive would crush aspiring artists, telling some it was the worst singing he ever heard. Eventually, he left the show, and the producers took a more positive approach with future seasons.
With Underwood returning for a second season, she recalled how nervous she was when judging for the first time. “I feel like last year, you wonder if you’ll have anything to say. You wonder what kind of a judge you’ll be because you really don’t know until you get in there. But I feel good, and I feel good about the talent, for sure.”
Carrie Underwood Doesn’t See Getting a “No” on ‘American Idol’ As Rejection
Making it through her freshman year as a judge, Underwood promised, “I feel more confident in myself in this role.”
Unlike previous judges, Underwood took no enjoyment from telling a contestant “no.” But as the singer saw it, “So a lot of it, if they’re young, it’s like ‘You just need to get in front of people some more. You need to put some more time into this. It’s not a no, it’s a not right now. Not quite yet, but keep doing what you do.’” She added, “I feel like most of the people that come through understand what we’re trying to tell them.
As she continues to settle into her role behind the judges’ table, Underwood’s perspective reflects both her own journey and a desire to encourage the next generation of artists.
arrie Underwood showcased her toned legs as she stepped out with her fellow American Idol judges, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, for an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday.
The country superstar looked incredible in a patterned gray sweater, a collared shirt, and a dark green plaid miniskirt. She completed the look with white crew socks and dark-colored glossy shoes, and wore her dark blonde hair down in subtle waves.
The 42-year-old shared that she tried to bring some of her own experiences as a previous Idol contestant to the new season. “Hopefully I gave some wisdom, having been in their shoes, that I can impart on them and help them along in that way,” she said.
© ABC/Jimmy Kimmel Live!Carrie, Luke and Lionel will return to our screens on Monday, January 26, with the latest season of American Idol. This season will mark Carrie’s second year in a row on the judging panel, after she won the competition back in 2005.
The mother of two opened up about how her approach to judging has changed since last season, when she was less sure of herself and her role.
“I feel more confident in myself in this role,” she said in an interview with Y’all Access Radio. “I feel like last year, you wonder if you’ll have anything to say. You wonder what kind of a judge you’ll be because you really don’t know until you get in there. But I feel good, and I feel good about the talent, for sure.”
© ABC/Jimmy Kimmel LiveCarrie added that the show would see some major changes this season, the biggest of all being that the iconic Hollywood Week would be moved to Nashville, Tennessee, thanks to two of the three judges being country artists.
Auditions were held at Belmont University in Nashville, which is a short drive from her 400-acre farm in Franklin. Despite this, the “Before He Cheats” singer explained that she rarely got to sleep in her own bed as she was kept so busy with Idol.
“I live an hour away,” she said in the interview. “So we have so much talent to go through that if we’re wrapping at 10:00, 10:30 at night, if I’m going to get home at like 11:30, and then I’m going to be back in the makeup chair at 7:00…I’ve been doing a little bit of that. I’ve been trying to bounce back and forth.”
© Getty ImagesCarrie was criticised by Idol fans during her first season for benig honest with the contestants, yet she defended her choices on Sirius XM’s The Highway in September.
© WireImage“Sometimes I get in trouble from people like, ‘How dare she say that it wasn’t perfect?’” she said.
“And I’m like, I just want everybody to learn, and that’s part of it. And nobody wants to just hear that they’re amazing all the time…We just want everybody to be able to grow and get better, and be the most awesome version of themselves that they could be.”
